Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-02-12

d~iifidently, .'you said YOU were think
ing Of me. Desiree." in a half-timid
whisper, my darling, ! think of you
always And now, the ice broken, he
told her how there was no room in his
heart for aught but her, his soft eyes
dark with intense feeling. Eloquently
ne pleaded. passionately: You will
not throw away q love like mine; no
man will ever love you as | love you,
Desiree!' And he moved a step for
ward as though to clasp her to him, but
the girl shrank back terrified.
ooh, how could You mistake my
meaning!' she exclaimed. IL never
thought-can't YOU understand? |
was but turning over III my mind the
probability of your eventually coming
TO care for Jane or Muricl."
IL could not marry your step sister,
declared Daniel cmphatically. Then,
in a low, earnest tone, SO tender, SO
gentle, so pleading, that the words
seemed to find their way TO Deslree's
heart: ''You, dearest, are my ideal
woman; don't you think you could
learn to care for me n littlep | am a
very young barrister. it is true, but
not wholly dependent on my pro-
fession for Il lodging and crust; be-
sides. Desiree, darling, | do not mean
TO be always n brietless barrister. 1
have gone through the usual cram
ming, my father is ambitious for me,
and-who knowsP-perhaps some day
| may rise to eminence. Oh, don't
blight my future.
He opened his arms as though he
would clasp hen to his %throbbing heart,
and keep her forever. for all time. But
the next moment he had checked him.
self, his hands dropped heavily to his
side; for there was no answering love
in Dcsirec's face. only a stony, fixed
stare.
..I1ow handsome he is"' the girl
could not help but think. The perfect
face and form of splendid manhood
was his. ON. what a thousand pities
he had none of this worlds wealth! Had
he been only moderately rich, Desirec
lie Strange would have suffered him to
take her small hand in his broad palm,
and they would have been eventually
married, and like the legends of nurs
cry days. live happily ever after. But
Desiree lie Strange did not see fit SO 10
do.
, Il could not marry a poor man.,
she said softly but firmly "A barris-
ter's career is so full of disappoint.
ments and struggles; Jane and Murie'
have their grandmother's little fortune,
which makes them III a measure indie.
pendent. have nothing
"Only your beautiful face-your 10y.
{ ing. gentle heart he whispered ten
/, derry. But she broke in with;
, ooh, do not say any more. The
/, kindest thing You can do is TO forget
me. ! have never cared for you-ney.
or! Forgive me if / have seemed &c
encourage you"
Forgive YOU he p%assionately
calculated, and the genuine misery in
his voice went TO her heart. Forgive
you!' he repeated, in u hoarse, low
? tone. his face ut a white heat, the
words coming through lips like SCI
+ iron. If | could promise you riches
would YOU care for me then, Desiret
lie Strange? Answer me truly"
''lf you were rich as a merchant
prince or Indian nabob | would MOI
+ marry you!' she cried with startlinz
, vehemence; but her voice trembled a
the close of the sentence, as though tn,
: heart were denying what the lips
uttered.
With a sad smile he turned from bel
and looked into the waters that were NJ
longer gold or crimson llccked.
Dcsiree instinctivcly moved away
She felt that she had no strength tc
| prolong the scene
, Presently thick raindrops fell will
melancholy, monotonous thud on tn,
tangle of fallen leaves: but DAME
Vessels did not move.
Long after Desiree's footsteps ha,
died away in the lane he ~remaineo
, standing where She had abruptly lef
him, with his arms folded over the oil,
{ stone bridge, thereby unconsciousI,
| crushing a wealth of beautiful lichen
! and fairy tronds.
, Down into the angry, frothy water
he gazed lixedly, paying no heed to til,
> r~ain-drops, which fell more heavil,
every moment.
The shortest way from the commor
4 to the village was by following til,
r beaten path on the outskirts Of Bran
: BILE hall, and along here Desirec hur
ried, while the sad autumn rain pat
! tered ~dismally around the slenderl,
robed trees, on the wilted harc-bells, OF
/, the dying bracken. The wind pipe'
shrilly through the reeds and rushe
thanking the river, and whistled mourn
fully midst the underground, in low
sad notes.
, A restless deer peeped shyly owe,
the palings at her, a pheasant whirreC
in the dark trees above her head
From the far depths of the woodlan,
sounded the solitary "tip tap of
; lonely woodpecker and the half-mufllc,
bay of a deep-mouthed hound. Tn
world seemed suddenly to have grown
: for Desiree very cheerless, very eeric.
, Years passed on bringing no mer
t chant prince, no Indian nabob. ~